02/08/2008
Investigate Cheney
There is ample evidence to suggest that Vice President Dick Cheney has violated his oath of office by continuing to work in the interest of his friends in the oil industry rather than the American people since assuming office. The results have included enormous costs in lives, tax dollars, global goodwill and military preparedness... and that's just in Iraq!
His foot-dragging on such global issues as climate change and nuclear disarmament are likely to lead us into even greater catastrophes, unless his high crimes and misdemeanors are exposed by an impeachment investigation in Congress.
Robert Henderson
10/19/2006
Letter insults
Marvin Pullin's Oct. 13 letter, "Don't be arousers," about a Montel Williams show is quite disturbing. These shows are popular because of their shock content, not because they represent mainstream America.
Pullin suggests sex offenses against American women would be reduced if women "would cover up their nakedness" as women in Iraq do. Does he really think Iraq is a paradise for women?
He prefaces his ideas about how women dress with "when our women stop using their bodies as sex arousers." It must be tough for guys like this to go out in public.
The "she was asking for it" excuse regarding sex offenses against women is used by sexual deviants and/or religious fanatics. The implication that if a woman goes out in shorts and a tank top, men will simply not be able to control themselves is an insult to men with normal, healthy sexual attitudes.
Sue Bernheisel
06/01/2006
Beware dominance
As Christians increasingly corrupt secular law by endeavoring to destroy the separation of church and state, they are, ironically, destroying their own religious freedom.
As the U.S. moves closer to theocratic rule, it must be recognized that one inevitable consequence will be that one sect will rise to dominate. Since separation of church and state will be gone, the dominant sect will, history unfailingly shows, impose its own "true" brand of religion on everyone - brutally, if necessary. Essentially, all denominations working to eliminate church and state separation will be completely wiped out when the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of, or from, religion is gone.
You're guaranteed the right to pursue your own spiritual path, religious or otherwise. But you are blind to Christianity's cruel history if you think you will be afforded that same right in the United States of Pentecostals or the United States of Catholics.
Russ Rogers
05/14/2006
Bush before country
The following are actual statements in a fundraising letter from North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee:
"If Democrats take control of the Senate in '06, they will cancel the Bush tax cuts, allow liberal activist judges to run our courts and undermine all Republican efforts to win the War on Terror. Even worse ..."
Even worse than surrendering to the terrorists! My God, what could the Democrats do that could be worse than that?
Well, I'll let Liz tell you: "Even worse, they will call for endless congressional investigations and possibly call for the impeachment of President Bush!"
To heck with the country - send money to save George's butt! Hats off to Josh Marshall's www.talkingpointsmemo.com blog. If you're not reading it, you should be.
Whitney Johnson
05/01/2006
Beware 'GOD-GOP'
The fusion of industrial Christianity (GOD) with the Republican Party's labor union and perk machine (GOP) has created the hybrid political deity, GOD-GOP - more powerful than either by itself.
Using secular law, GOP bestows the impotent GOD with very real, often devastating, financial and military power over people's lives. In turn, GOP inherits the blind acceptance of GOD's irrationality, absolute authority, and lack of accountability to anyone at any time for anything.
All manner of ineptitude and injustice can simply be dismissed with "it's GOD-GOP's will," "it's a sin to question GOD-GOP," or "you can only be saved by having absolute, unquestioning faith in GOD-GOP."
Most of our worst problems are the direct result of the self-serving nature of GOD-GOP, and yet, since nothing is more powerful than GOD-GOP, while GOD-GOP remains in control, we can only look forward to more of the same. Humankind deserves so much better.
Russ Rogers
04/03/2006
Check out atheism
Religious violence is in the news every day. History has shown that more people have been slaughtered in the name of God than for any other reason. It's impossible to calculate how many tens of millions have been killed from all the holy wars, crusades, witch hunts, jihads, the Holocaust and suicide bombers. Fortunately, there is an alternative.
Lansing has started its first atheist organization dedicated to the separation of church and state. To express your opinions and ideas with other freethinkers, please contact us at Atheistplanet@aol.com or visit www.midmichiganatheists humanists.org.
Steven Leo
03/10/2006
Gods plentiful
Letter writers who criticize atheists should make note that all humans are atheists. Do people still believe in the god Zeus? No. How about Jupiter? No, again.
Human minds have created thousands of gods; imagined them having great powers; believed, feared and worshiped those imagined powers; and then, as fashion or conquest dictated, simply cast them aside. What, then, did those gods with all that imaginary power do about being ignored? Nothing.
Today, man's god-creating machinery still cranks out fresh new gods by the dozen. For instance, among the more than 20,000 Christian denominations worldwide, the hundreds of different notions labeled "God" conflict so significantly in their powers, influences and attributes that it's clear that Christianity has not one unique God, but actually many distinct gods all using the same name.
These hundreds of one-of-a-kind Christian gods run the gamut of what humans wish their god could do.
Russ Rogers
02/27/2006
Skepticism fine
It's ludicrous to paint skeptics of religion as just self-serving hedonists, as Matt Denhardt (Letters, Feb. 15) attempts to do.
Most non-believers I know have sincere philosophical doubts about the presence of an omnipotent, omniscient power in the universe. They question the overall benefit of religious conviction in human behavior or both. Consequently, they see good and bad outcomes in life as essentially a random process and doubt that measures of good living (rates of divorce, willingness to follow the law, etc.) are in any way related to degree of religiosity.
As a result, they turn away from the notion of rewards in some questionable existence after death and concentrate on making a difference in this life.
What could be more noble?
Jay R. Harman
Start thinking
Becky Ledesma (Letters, Jan. 20) states God doesn't hate adulterers, thieves, alcoholics, homosexuals or pedophiles. Some of these have turned to God. Yet evangelical preachers have said New Orleans was wiped out due to sin. Glad her imaginary friend doesn't hate.
Mary Haan (Letters, Jan. 21) wants Vince Green as the 23rd District's next senator to stop the "homosexual agenda." I fear the fundamentalist agenda much more than the gay agenda. One wants to be married, the other wants to force unsubstantiated beliefs on others. Don't think, just obey.
A. Tran (Letters, Jan. 22) and Jeff Conklin (Letters, Jan. 21) discuss the unnecessary deaths at the Hajj. One states they could've asked Jesus to be saved, the other states it's because everyone is a sinner. Sorry, no religious dogma and pilgrimage - no deaths. Simple.
As Edward Abbey said, "God is just a sound people make when they're too tired to think anymore."
Neal Mathisen
Defend reason
The religious right isn't content with the freedom to practice their religion; they want to use our tax money to jam it down our throats.
They cry persecution when we stop them from inserting their mythology into public school textbooks, when we remove their symbols from our courtrooms, and when we fight their bigotry as they misuse their god to deny civil rights to blacks, women and gays.
Copernicus fought them and helped usher in an age of science, which has ended more human suffering than prayer ever did.
Voltaire, Hume and Jefferson fought them and set the foundations for democracy. This brought us what we take for granted now: American self-governance, free from superstitious dogma and autocratic, unaccountable masters.
Losing ground to their brand of insanity is not an option. For those who fought for us, and for the sake of future generations, fight for reason and tolerance now.
Whitney Johnson
Senator crosses line
State Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-DeWitt, obviously doesn't care about being respectful of other religions. He would rather go with the exclusive "Christmas" tree instead of an inclusive "Holiday" tree.
Let me take one guess, Cropsey just happens to be Christian. If he grew up Jewish or one of the many other religions in this country, he might see things a little differently.
Cropsey is free to call the tree whatever he wants, but please don't officially tell me what I must call it or what holiday I'm celebrating.
Will the senator support an official state menorah? How about a Buddhist statue or a prominent display of the tenets of Islam on the Capitol grounds, paid for by Michigan taxpayers? Michigan is a state of religious freedom, not a business of religious endorsement.
Cropsey deserves the same respect that he has shown other religious groups: None!
Steve
Words carry power
In response to Kim Laforet's Feb. 7 letter, "Double standards."
The Ten Commandments should be placed in any public area you desire. Right next to it will be the following quote from Robert Ingersoll:
"Now and then somebody examines, and in spite of all keeps his manhood, and has the courage to follow where his reason leads. Then the pious get together and repeat wise saws, and exchange knowing nods and most prophetic winks. The stupidly wise sit owl-like on the dead limbs of the tree of knowledge, and solemnly hoot. Wealth sneers, and fashion laughs, and respectability passes by on the other side, and scorn points with all her skinny fingers, and all the snakes of superstition writhe and hiss, and slander lends her tongue, and infamy her brand, and perjury her oath, and the law its power, and bigotry tortures, and the church kills."
Now that's free speech.
Neal C. Mathisen
Use science for kids
George Bush, a man who by his own admission was unable to control his passions until he was 37, believes a $117 million religious, abstinence-only program can control our children's passions.
In order to maintain a strong nation, tomorrow's leaders need to be trusted with information, taught decision-making skills and allowed choices. They should not be asked to follow directions without question.
Abstinence-only "education" not only halts our progress as a free, productive, happy society, but actually sets it back. Children need to know how to protect themselves from disease, death and unwanted pregnancy. Abstinence-only polices have proven to be an unrealistic choice.
George, stop attending prayer meetings. Pick up a book or listen to your own social scientists. Possibly you'll learn something that will help instead of hinder our future.
Neal C. Mathisen
Not on my dime
James Muffett (Jan. 16) is confused, or trying to confuse us. Nobody, courts especially, found that acknowledging God in public violates the First Amendment.
About 87 years after our Constitution's signing, a religious group, unsuccessful at amending it to "establish" America as a Christian nation, compromised by putting "In God We Trust" on our currency.
A good first step to "establish" a state religion would be to imprint a motto on currency and have children recite it every day.
It's really unbelievably simple: If taxpayers fund it, keep religion out of it. No more whining about your free speech being "violated." Preach on a street corner, turn your front yard into a shrine - have at it. Just don't make me pay for it.
Whitney Johnson
Faith drives conflict
The greatest evil created by man, "God," is on a rampage again. There are a few resource wars around the world, but, for the most part, it's all about fantasies. Even here in America, Christianity has raised its ugly head once more. Savage religions created for savage people in savage times are now back in style.
We were, at one time, admired by the free thinking peoples of the world. Now, we have been dragged down into the evil and immoral behavior that foaming-at-the-mouth fundamentalists and fascists propagate for their own enrichment.
When fantasies control the thoughts of leaders around the world, it is always time for war. For those with even a modicum of intelligence, it's time to duck. The animals are getting ready to thin their herds again.
The real war encompasses all aspects of life. Reason versus faith. Think, please.
Neal C. Mathisen
Battle lines drawn
Christian fundamentalists are now in control of this country. Hello, Dark Ages.
Negotiation and compromise presuppose democracy. George Bush's unholy neanderthals would have you think that all issues are black and white - a basic logic fallacy. There are more choices.
What happens when you're nice to an evangelist? Look around you: War, social injustice, loss of freedom. They oppose science and reason. Their opposition to social issues is abominable. Compromises could be made in all the current issues. They say there is only one solution. They lie.
Stop being nice to the fundamentalists, for they and their god are bigots.
Neal C. Mathisen
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